GOVERNMENT DEFEATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27387, 12 May 1950, Page 5

GOVERNMENT DEFEATED

South African Assembly AMENDMENT TO BILL Resignation Unlikely Rec. 7.55 p.m. CAPE TOWN. May 11. The South African Government last night was defeated by one vote on an amendment to the Prime Minister, Dr Malan’s, Population Registration Bill. It was at first reported that the Government had been saved by the casting vote of the Speaker, but the Speaker later informed the Assembly that the division in which he used his casting vote had actually gone against the Government by one vote. The result, when first announced, gave a tie of 63 votes, and the Speaker gave his casting vote for the Government. The Speaker said it was later brought to his notice that there had been an error in the counting of the Government votes. The Speaker ordered that his casting vote should be withdrawn, making the voting for the Opposition 63 and for the Government 62. The debate was adjourned to enable the Speaker to consider the procedural problems involved. The Assembly rose amidst the Opposition’s cries of “ Resign,” but the Government’t, resignation is considered most unlikely, as the amendment was to only one clause of the Bill, and many members 1 were absent from the division. The Assembly consists of 153 elected members